Welcome To St. Clair Railways

This Site is for railroad enthusiasts with an interest in railways in Lambton County and the St.Clair River region.

February 2010
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Courtright Train Station Photos

Posted By admin on February 2, 2010

I have posted more photos  of the  Courtright train station along with some information on its size.

http://stclairrailways.com/courtright-station-canada-southern-new-york-central-michigan-central-railroad/

Present Progress of Railroads in Canada

Posted By admin on February 2, 2010

The Sarnia Observer and Western Advertiser

February 9, 1854

Present Progress of Railroads in Canada

Montreal and Bytown – We are happy to announce that on the 18th inst.,

a commencement was made upon this work. The Contractors, Messers.

Sykes & Co., do not dilly dally with their undertakings. It is only

about two months since the contract was signed, and already the route

has been surveyed, a great portion of it located, and now thepart most

required is already in hand. It is known to our readers that the

navigation of the Ottawa is interrupted at Carillon, about 45 miles

from Montreal, by rapids and chutes which extend to Grenville, about

18 miles above, and that the Canals cut to overcome them were made at

a time when Durham boats alone did duty in transferring traffic to

Upper Canada, and ontoo small a scale to permit steamers of the

present day to pass through their locks.  Passengers therefore, to

Bytown, have been conveyed bystages between the navigation at Carillon

and the navigation above at Grenville, at much comparitive discomfort.

It is this reach, therefore, which Messers., Sykes & De Bergue, with

great consideration for public convenience have resolved to put in

hand even at some disadvantage without losing a day, and to push it

through with such energy that by the opening of the spring the line

will be ready to receive the rail, and before the summer travel really

commences to have it in running order, unless some untoward accident

occur to prevent it.

Annexation Of Canada

Posted By admin on February 2, 2010

The Sarnia Observer and Western Advertiser

February 9,1854

Annexation of Canada

The finest portion of the British Provinces in North America is the

Peninsula lying west and south Of Lake Ontario, and between the

Niagara and Detroit River.  It is projected into our territory like a

bastion,  separating the States of New York and Michigan, and lying

across the most direct line of communication between ports which

receive the great mass of European emigration and the fields of the

Northwest which they come to cultivate.  It has been heretofore

isolated by the want of harbors on the Canadian shore of Lake Erie,

and on the interior routes.

 On the 17th inst., the completion of the railroad running

through this terriotory from the Suspension Bridge at Niagra Falls to

Detroit was celebrated at the latter city, and but a few days before

the opening of the branch railroad intersecting the main line at

Brantford and connecting it with Buffalo, was the occasion of similar

festivities. The course of travel henceforth, from Detroit to

seaboard, will be over the Canada Road, across the Suspension bridge,

and the Niagara branch of the Central Railroad to Rochester and thence

to Eastern cities, and the stream of emigration will pursue the same

route in the opposite direction. Canada West is thus annexed by iron

bands to our Union, and is to be the highway for hundreds of thousands

of our citizens every year on their journeys to and from their Western

homes.

 Beating swords into plow shares was a striking and forcible

figure in its day, but compare it with the fact stated in an extract

from a Western paper to the effect that ” Bennett Marshall & Co., of

Pittsburg, have bought a large quantity of large iron cannons in

Canada which they will convert into railroad iron. The cannon were

used against the United States through out the war in 1812, and it is

said made havoc among our troops at Malden and Lundy’s Lane ” Ponder

the signifiance of this fact, and then consider how long it is likely

to be, after the boundry between them is but a scratch on a rail on

the Suspension Bridge over the Niagara River; across which trains

freighted with citizens of both Governments shall cross a dozen times

a day, before the people of the two countries will take security that

the rails will never be converted into cannon, by obliterating the

political divisions and taking down the two flags that now float at

opposite ends of the bridge to replace them by another with an extra

star on its field. The precise occasion and the mode in which this

consummation will be reached are not now apparent, but it is none the

less certain because neither party is at present disposed to take any

steps in order to hasten it.

 At the Brantford celebration Mr. Wadsworth of Buffalo referred

to the fact that wheat which obtained the premium at the World’s

Exhibition was grown in that town while the line of that road is yet

skirted by forests covering land capable of growing such wheat. These

circumstances will be apt to attract Yankee settlers throughout this

portion of the peninsula adjoining the new avenues to market, and

every one of the them will find fresh arguments for a political union,

with his mother country.  It is unnecessary to refer to the obvious

considerations showing that these Railroads are potent agents of

annexation. If things are well let alone it will come soon enough. -

N.Y. Tribune  February 9, 1854

Amazing Rail Art

Posted By admin on February 1, 2010

Railroad Art Pool on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/groups/railroadart/pool/

Paris Ontario Train Show January 17

Posted By admin on January 25, 2010

Photos taken by Katie McPhee

Completion Of The Grand Trunk Telegraph line to Buffalo

Posted By admin on January 24, 2010

The Sarnia Observer and Western Advertiser

February 2, 1854

Telegraph Line To Buffalo.
The Hamilton & Buffalo Division of the Grand Trunk Telegraph Line
was yesterday completed and put in successful operation.  At the

office of the company may be seen by the curious, that novelty, in

Canadian telegraphing at least, Morse’s Lightning Printing Press. 

This section of the line will be worked throughout with a printing

instrument, which for expedition, accuracy and beauty, appears to

eclipse entirely every other system ever invented for telegraphing. 

For it’s introduction into this country, the Company are indepted to

the enterprise of it’s former superintendent, Mr. W. D. Snow.  The

completion of this section gives a total distance now working to the

Grand Trunk Company of 880 miles, while the completion of the Montreal

and Quebec section, by the same contractors on the 1st prov., will

make an aggregate of 1085 miles or the longest line under one company,

in America.- Hamilton Spectator.

Oops

Posted By admin on January 13, 2010

Last night the snow plow clipped the crossing signals on Hill St. in Corunna at the CN tracks.  Today Chris Robins and Darrel Reid were doing the repairs to get it functional again.

Grand Trunk Railway February 2 ,1854

Posted By admin on January 11, 2010

The Sarnia Observer and Western Advertiser

February 2, 1854

Grand Trunk Railway – Whether there is any foundation for the rumor, which has received currency through City

Council that an amalgamation between the Great Western and Grand Trunk Lines has taken place, does not yet appear.
Should such an event have transpired, it is not unreasonable that a corollary to the contract between the companies

will be a stipulation for the abandonment of the Western Branch of the line,intended to connect Toronto with the

Western Frontier at Sarnia. The effect of such an arrangement in the prospective calculations of this City, is a

matter of ver serious impact. Un questionably the understanding was, that this Line should run to the River St.

Clair, avoiding a junction with the Great Western at any point of the route. The City as a stock holder in the

Line, has no common interest in fulfilment of these stipulations. If it is determined by our Railway Governors to

break them we shall see good reason apart from the temporary rise in the Grand Trunk Stock for those indicious men,

the Contractors seeking to relieve the Corporation of it’s responsibilities in the Road. We shall be able better to

appreciate the magnanamity of those overtures, to free the ratepayers of Toronto of the risk to which they were

subjected, so long as the success of the work was still problematical, and astringency in the money no remote

possibility. These are times, we suppose, when we may look for such disinterested others, and put them to the

credit of the good time coming. Will the Organs please do read us another homily on public virtue? — Examiner.

Grand Trunk Telegraph February 2, 1854

Posted By admin on December 21, 2009

Completion of the Grand Trunk Telegraph line to Buffalo

The Sarnia Observer and Western Advertiser

February 2, 1854

Completion of the Grand Trunk Telegraph Line in Buffalo.

The Hamilton & Buffalo division of The Grand Trunk Telegraph Line was yesterday completed and put in successful operation. At the other end the company may be seen by the curious, that novelty, in Canadian telegraphing at least
H,,,, lightining printing press. This section of the line will be worked throughout with a printing

instrument,which for expedition, accuracy and beauty, appears to eclipse entirely every other system ever innvented for telegraphing. For it’s introduction into this country. the Company are indepted to the enterprise of it’s

former Superintendent Mr W. D. Snow. The completion of this section gives a total distance now working to the Grand

Trunk Company of 880 miles, while the completion of the Montreal and Quebec section by the same contractors on the

1st province, will make an aggregate of 1085 miles, or the longest line under one company in America – Hamilton

Spectator.

London Train Show November 29th

Posted By admin on November 28, 2009

London Train Show Tomorrow at Centennial Hall from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm.
check Ontario Model Train Shows web page for more info.